Summary: Jesus warns of tough times and provides us His Word to lead and guide us in our lives. We say that we live by HIs word, but are we? Is it inspiration and perspiration?

Inspiration and Perspiration

2 Timothy 3:16-3:17

Introduction-

Turn with me to 2 Timothy chapter 3

I want to take a look at what most of us here would say is the Word of God that they live bye.

We believe every word and know that it is the inspired Word of God.

Some will say that they believe it all, but only practice about ½ of it.

There is also a group of people that struggle because as of yet, the Word of God has not changed their lives and they have not experienced the power of God’s Word and only know God’s Word from what they are taught and hear in a church service.

2 Timothy Chapter 3 is about Apostle Paul writing to Timothy, a partner in ministry lessons that all of us could benefit from if we would apply to our lives.

Paul tells us this world is terrible.

There will be hard-times.

People will be lovers of money, boastful, proud, ungrateful, unholy, brutal to each other and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

We are told they have a form of godliness but deny its power.

I don’t think anyone would have a problem agreeing with that statement this morning. This is how people are behaving!

But Paul sits him down and says (10) “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, and my sufferings. (11) “Yet, the Lord has rescued me from all of them.”

You would think that the Lord took him out of trouble, made everything okay, but that is not what happened. He was hated by most people because of Jesus teachings and things didn’t get better, they actually were getting worse.

You saw and heard what I taught

You saw how I lived my life.

You saw that they matched up.

You know that I was not always this way, but once I heard the truth and applied the truth, I have lived it .

Evil men will deceive and it will be getting worse.

(14) “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it.”

Jewish children learn God’s Word from 5 years old.

Learned from his mother and grandmother. (converted Jews)

Apostle Paul

Jesus

(15) “And how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Text- 2 Timothy 3:16-3:17

What do you say to that? Your answer will determine how you will live out your life.

The recorded words of God put together in this book we call the Bible.

The recorded words are inspired, and are useful for use in our lives.

Nazarene doctrine says in our articles of faith that “we believe the word of God is divinely inspired, in-errantly revealing the will of God concerning us in all things necessary to our salvation.

Salvation- in this book

Holy living- in this book.

How to please God

How to know and find God- in this book.

What heaven will be like, How to avoid Hell.

Promises of God

Other questions answered by knowing the character of God, learning the principals that He has laid out for us.

It is important to know what you believe and why you believe it.

“Just because” doesn’t satisfy most when it comes to the things of God. You have to understand the why and the how.

There are many who see the Bible as a book of thoughts by numerous men and spend their whole life trying to poke holes in it.

Some who believe the Old and New Testament are true and trustworthy because they are the words of God.

Mark Twain-

“The Bible has poetry, clever fables, and blood drenched history, and some good morals, a worth of obscenity, and upwards of a thousand lies.”

Woodrow Wilson-

“When you read the Bible, you will know it is the word of God.”

How can there be such a difference?

One is just reading it looking for holes.

One is reading it under the anointing of God and searching that God would reveal Himself to him.

Words of God- “God breathed”- that is where we get the word Bible. The Greek equivalent to God-breathed.

The Bible didn’t just fall out of the sky.

It was not found neatly packaged with a note from God to read it.

It is a compilation of 66 books written by over 40 authors in different languages over a period of 1500 years. 39 Old Testament books written before Christ came to this earth and 27 after Jesus came and witnessed by his apostles and others.

Unity throughout with a theme from Genesis to Revelation revealing God’s plan to restore His creation.

You don’t believe that! Then your God is not big enough!

John 14:25

“All this I have spoken while with you, but the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

John 16:12-

“I have much to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.”

Bible was authored by God-

it was put together so that we can know we have a redeemer and His name is Jesus.

We could live a life pleasing to God and have some of life’s hard questions answered.

If you do not believe that, you are going to read this book with doubt and have no life change.

If you do believe that- The inspired word of God, without error, preserved by God to remain pure and true.

You open up this Bible and you will experience the anointing power of God fall on these words and will change your life forever.

The Gospels are not just fables, or exaggerated stories- they are words recorded by eye witnesses who heard Jesus preach and teach. They were men who gave their lives for the savior they believed in.

How many would die for a hoax?

How many would give their lives if they didn’t believe you could have a life change? Would die for something they knew was not real?

If you don’t believe that- you will struggle with the relevance of the Bible.

The Bible teaches relevance in three areas

(1) Teaching

(2) Rebuking

(3) Correcting and training in righteousness (verse 16)

(17) “So that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

How is it that we can go to human authors, support groups, hot lines to get important information, but the very word of God is usually our last resort?

We never outgrow the Bible.

The Bible needs to be our foundation for our lives.

God Word gives us strength when trouble comes.

It teaches us to know truth, recognize truth, and live out God’s truth.

We don’t outgrow it, it is ageless yet relevant.

Life is tough!

Don’t let anyone fool you. But God offers us strength and guidance.

Family is tough!

He offers us two advantages.

(1) He told us it would be tough.

(2) Told us what we need to do.

The world is getting worse-

They are nearly out of control. Don’t be surprised.

Tough times are coming-

Don’t be discouraged.

Believers who build their lives on God’s word may be persecuted, but they will not be defeated.

The Bible is not an option- it is our standard.

It is God communicating with us through His word.

2 Peter 1:20-21

“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Listen, I am closing

Concerning relevance- teaching, rebuking, correcting, righteous living(what pleases God) it is found in the pages of the Bible.

You want good stories that tickle your fancy, there is a lot of books out there to do that. If you want direction in a tough world, know how to find God and have a personal relationship with Him, it is in here.

That’s inspiration! God’s word will inspire you when you need it, correct you when you need it.

It also takes perspiration-

Because it is not easy to admit that you don’t have all the answers and you need God’s help.

It will take work to make sure all the distractions of the world don’t pull you away from the God your heart needs.

You really want answers? Seek and you shall find. God’s promise to us.

Taste and see that I am good.

You do nothing to understand and find God- that is your choice.

Many have tried to destroy God’s word, but it has outlasted all its attackers.

It is the eternal word of God. It is a message of hope to us who need it.

My prayer is that we blow the dust off our Bibles and our hearts and open them up to God and His word.